February 17, 2009

AAAS Meeting 2009: Epigenetic Therapy

Posted by Amy Maxmen,
PhD Science Writer for the Journal of Experimental Medicine

Shoot at methylated sites, recommends Peter Jones from the
University of Southern California
on Saturday at the AAAS Meeting. Theoretically at least, the approach packs
more bang for your buck. Releasing a promoter from the grips of methylation
allows for the transcription of a perfectly fine gene.

With whole genomes at our disposal, scientists have
identified chromosomal areas of epigenetic modification prevalent in cancer. Jones
displays a couple of diagrams illustrating these identified chromosomes and
points out where the methylation of some lysine groups has silenced genes,
leading to cancerous cell proliferation.

Drugs to flip this methylated switch to reactivate silenced
genes were at first inadvertently invented decades ago. One such demethylating
drug is now in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of myeloid leukemia
and the results look promising.

Yet without methylation in moderation, we would surely die.
For example, women would be overwhelmed by an excess of gene expression coming
from their second X chromosome. Another audience member speaks my thoughts as
he asks about side effects of epigenetic therapy. After a pause, Jones nods,
“This does remain an issue.” For now, he says, these drugs would only be given
to people in a life-threatening situation.

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